Electrical display apparatus



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,795

P. H. WALLER ELECTRICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet .Huzl If. hzl'r I m W Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,795 P H. WALLER ELECTRICAL DI SPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 EWaller P. H. WALLER ELECTRICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS Aug. 21, 1928.

Filed Sept. 8. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,681,795 P. H. WALLER Filed Sept. 8,"1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ELECTRICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS men/rm. Paul Walk? 8 w: 0 &.

ATWRMEKSI Aug. 21, 1928.

Aug. 21, 1928.

P. H. WALLER ELECTRICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 8, 1927 lNl/ENTUI? AMY patented Aug. 21, 1928?.

UNITED STATES PATENT omen.

PAUL HENRY WALLEB, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ELECTRICAL DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Application filed September 8, 1927, Serial No. 218,275, and in Great Britain July as, 1926. I

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to electrical display apparatus of the type having a map or the like and electric lamps for illuminating any desired route or other display.

The present invention is well suited to route or position indicators for maps, plans, charts, and the like, inwhich difierent paths or positions are shown by selective electrical illumination under the control of a series of switches.

These switches which control what may be regarded as the primary or main display of the apparatus are hereinafter referred to as display switches.

Now according to the present invention there is provided what may be regarded as a secondary display to the primary display so that the one shall accompany the other in a certain predetermined manner.

' By the present invention the operation of a primary or main display switch is accompanied by the simultaneous movement of a secondary display switch in order to illuminate an electric sign, preferably thesecondary switch'also acts to change the circuit so that different signs can be successively illuminated. 7

Different signs may comprise main and subordinateannouncements which may successively light up in different local areas, the cycle repeating itself in accordance with the repetitive use made of the primary dis- Iii order that the present invention may be the more readily understood reference is made to the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side views of one form of circuit changing switch and operating parts therefor. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of another form. Figs. 5 and 6 show diagrammatic circuits. Fig. '7 is a view of a form of circuit changing switch and opcrating parts therefor. Fig. 8 is a view of a form of display apparatus with which the present invention may be used, and Figs. 9 and 10 being details thereof.

It is to be understood that many lay-outs ofsign circuits may be made and that those shown diagrammatically byFigs. 5 and 6 are merely examples.

These figures show four display announce ments 1, 2, 3, and 4, the illumination of which is under the control of a rotary circult changing switch 5, which rotary switch 5 is dependent for movement on the operation of a display switch, as for example, a serles of display switches in an indicating apparatus of the kind illustrated by Figs. 6 8 and 9. p l i In Fig. 5 it will be seen that the series of announcements takes place in the following cyclical order, viz, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, l, 4.

In Fig. 6 the order of display is 1, 2, 3, 4, 1,2,3and4. V Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 these figures show an arrangement of rotary step-bystep circuit changing or secondary display switch, whichis operated by the actuation 7 of any of the main display switches 12 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in the form ofpush buttons.

It is to be understood that Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a known electrically-illuminated route, position, and like indicating apparatus, the mechanism of which forms no part of the present invention, but is shown so as to indicate an example of apparatus to p which the invention is applicable. In this so example the illumination is controlled by multiple switches, one switch or unit of which is normally closed, and which are so arranged thatclosure of any other switch causes the switch alreadyv closed to open.

There is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 push button switches 12. Each button 12 operates a switch comprising a blade29 pivoted at 51 and normally pressed away from contacts 52 by springs 53, 54. The operated blade 29 is retained in engagement with the contacts 52 by a locking bar 13 common to the switches, pivoted at 53 and engaging the end itself of the blade 29 as well as a catch 1 18 pivoted to the blade 29. The catch 18 is normally maintained in the position shown by a slight pull-string 55 and an abutment bearing against the blade 29.. On depression of a blade 29, the catch 18 moves the bar 13 against the action of a spring 56 to release the end itself of the blade of the switch previously operated, after which the catch 18 of this blade is turned anti-clockwise by the bar 13 and springs 53, 54 to shorten and complete the release of this blade. The support 57 for the .switches is at an angle to the front of the frame 58 (Fig. 8) to give a simple push action to the switches. WVhen a row of switches is arranged at each side of the frame, the corresponding bars 13 are interconnected by a bar 33, Fig. 8, so that operation of any switch releases a previously-operated switch on either side. To prevent operation of more than one switch at a time, the blades 29 cooperate with acommon member opening or yielding to receive one blade only at a tune. The common member may comprise a row of balls 27 in a notched tube 28 with space to receive one blade only. If none of the switches 12 are operated, a circuit is closed automatically bycontacts carried by two parts of a bar 59 pressed apart by a spring 60 but pressed together on the operation of any switch by bell-crank levers 61 acting on plungers 62 pressing on the two rows of balls 27 corresponding to the two rows of switches at the sides of the frame. The bar 33 may be moved by any suitable means such as a push button to release the blades 29 from the bar 13 and so allow manual closure of the contacts on the bar 59. Any button 12 may close several circuits or several gaps in one circuit.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the present invention in conjunction with the connecting bar 33 shown in Figs. '8 to 10 but it is to be understood that when only a single row of switches is provided, a movable bar the equivalent of 33 will be provided. Now on operation of any push button on either side of the frame shown in Fig. 8 the bar 33 moves to the right hand, and through a pivoted arm 6 moves a pivoted frame 7 carrying a pawl 8 engaging a ratchet wheel 9 fast on a spindle 10, on which spindle there is secured the bridge 11 of the step-by-s'tep rotary circuit changing switch 12 A detent 13 for preventing backward movement of the ratchet wheel 9 is carried on an arm 14 depending from the pivot spindle '15 for the pivoted arm 6. The switch 12 comprises a panel 16 with studs 17 forming the terminals for the various circuits. By the movement of the ratchet wheel one tooth forward the bridge of the switch is moved from one co-operating pair of studs to the next co-operating pair.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a rotary step by step switch as applied to a route or position indicator for maps, plans, charts, etc., in which different paths or positions are shown by selective electrical illumination under the Each of the rods bears against a common bar 23 which bar on being moved by a rod 19 imparts movement to a spindle or shaft 24 which carries an arm 25 having a pawl 26 engaging the ratchet wheel 9, to impart a step-by-step movement to the bridgeor arm of the rotary switch.

Fig. 7 shows another adaption of the invention to a pathfinder apparatus of the kind illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In this construction the pawl carrying arm 25 is op erated by the tail of the locking bar 13. The parts marked 12, 13 and 18 correspond to those so marked on Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

Any suitable standard voltmeter switch may be used as the rotary switch.

The drawings are to be read as more of a. diagrammatic nature than actual working drawings, and various modifications may be made thereto in building up the constructional forms of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:- i

1. In electrically illuminated display apparatus of the character described, the combination with a plurality of independently and selectively operable main display switches of the kind described, of a step-bystep secondary display switch, and means interposed between said'main switches and said step-bystep switch so that operation of any main display switch is accompanied by a simultaneous movement of said step-by-step switch. I

2. In electrically illuminated display apparatus of the character described, the comblnation with multiple independently and selectively operable main display switches of the kind described of a rotary step-by-step secondary display switch, and meansinterposed between said multiple switches and sald rotary step-by-step switch so that operation of any main display switch is accompanied by a simultaneous movement of said rotary step-by-ste'p switch.

3. In electrically illuminated display apparatus of the character described, the combination with multiple independently and selectively operable main display switches of the kind described of a step-by-step -sec0nd ary display switch, a member common to all said main display switches and bein moved on the operation of any one of said main displa switches, and means connecting said member to said step-by-step secondary display switch so that movement of said member is accom anied by a simulof any one of said switches, a rotary steptaneous movement 0 said step-by-step by-step secondary display switch, and means 10 switch. connecting said member to said step-by-step 4;. In electrically illuminated display apswitch so that on movement of said member 5 paratus of the character described having the said step-by-step switch is advanced one multiple independently and selectively operstep. able main display switches of the kind de- In testimonywhereof, I affix my signature. scribed, a member movable on the operation PAUL HENRY WALLER. 

